Global Scans · Life Below Water · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

• [New] Over the next three decades, islands such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji will experience at least 6 inches of sea level rise even if the world reduces planet-heating pollution. KESQ
• [New] Scientists have a good idea how much average sea level will rise by 2050 - around 6 inches globally, and as much as 10 to 12 inches in the US. KESQ
• [New] Above-normal rainfall increases the risk of flash floods, river flooding, and waterborne diseases, particularly in densely populated and low-lying areas such as Bangladesh, parts of eastern India, and Pakistan's Indus Basin. Devdiscourse
• [New] Around 6.3 million homes in England currently risk flooding, with an 88% increase in properties at risk from river - and sea - flooding compared to the previous year. Global Witness
• [New] Areas like McKinley County, New Mexico; Conejos County, Colorado; and Summit County, Colorado are projected to be among the safest places to live in the United States under a severe climate change scenario, based on factors like temperature change, precipitation change, and sea level rise. The Environmental Literacy Council
• [New] Six China Coast Guard personnel landed on the disputed Sandy Cay in the Spratly Islands, possibly signaling that the PRC will aggressively pursue territorial claims in the South China Sea amid growing US-Philippine military cooperation. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] Asia-Pacific Tensions: Disputes in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, or between North and South Korea could also spiral out of control, drawing in regional and global powers. Future
• [New] The $4.1 billion all-stock deal will see the merged companies become a new kind of defence tech called AV that can build tech across all warfighting domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyber. TechCrunch
• [New] By adding a second major seaway, Turkey could capture a larger share of maritime traffic between the Black Sea and the world. Erkan's Field Diary
• [New] The possible safe return to Red Sea routes could have a strong impact on container shipping, and other segments, with some analysts expecting it could happen by the second or third quarter of 2025. The Maritime Executive
• [New] President Donald Trump recently threatened sanctions and tariffs against Mexico over disputes related to water treaties involving the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, which have had dwindling flow in recent years thanks to climate change. Live Science
• [New] Rising sea levels and heavier precipitation due to climate change mean more areas in Canada are now at risk of flooding. Canada's National Observer
• [New] 6.3 million properties in England are in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, and surface water, a number which is predicted to rise to around 8 million, or one in four, by 2050. Building
• [New] A Chinese invasion of Taiwan could begin with sea mines laid by fishing trawlers and submarines, potentially blockading ports and disrupting maritime traffic. Economic Times
• Turkey holds the second-largest army in NATO, which makes it a critical country in ensuring security due to its military potential and control over access to the Black Sea. Yeni Safak
• The North Sea will be by far the most important location for offshore wind power in Europe and will provide more power than nuclear or fossil fuels by 2050. Centre for European Reform
• One in four homes could be at risk of flooding by 2050, as climate change pushes up sea levels and increases the intensity of storms. no2nuclearpower
• Indonesia's signing of a maritime deal with China last year sparked controversy, with analysts saying it could be interpreted as a change in Jakarta's long-held stance as a non-claimant state in the South China Sea. SRN News
• Australia will have a crucial chance to support a moratorium on deep sea mining at the UN Ocean Conference in June. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• The ocean is under attack from every angle, suffering from climate change, destructive industrial fishing, plastic pollution, and now the new threat of deep sea mining, driven by the Trump administration and billionaire elites seeking to profit from ocean destruction. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• An executive order signed by United States President Donald Trump last week could potentially challenge existing global norms linked to deep-sea mining as he tries to reduce his country's reliance on China for critical minerals. financialpost

Last updated: 11 May 2025